It’s Not Mexican Independence Day

Mexican Independence is celebrated on September 16^th. That’s the day (in 1810) that Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Mexicans to rise against Spanish rule.

Cinco de Mayo Is All About A Military Win

Cinco de Mayo celebrates an 1862 battle that took place at the Fort of Guadalupe in the city of Puebla. General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated a contingent of French soldiers that were much better trained and equipped. The General’s forces numbered about 4,000 while the French had twice that amount. The win represented a much-needed boost to morale (which was good because the Mexicans lost both Puebla and Mexico City the next month.)

What Was France Doing In Mexico Anyway?

Napoleon III was trying to expand his empire in Mexico, then access the U.S. Once in the United States,  he hoped to help the Confederate Army. President Lincoln although sympathetic to the Mexican cause, was busy with the Civil War at this time. However, once the war ended, the U.S. forced France to withdraw its troops from Mexico.

President Franklin Roosevelt Started The Party (Kind Of)

In 1933, President Roosevelt created the “Good Neighbor Policy” to improve our relationship with Latin American countries.

Holy Guacamole!

Over 33.6 million U.S. residents come from Mexican heritage according to the U.S. census. Fortunately, they brought their colorful traditions and fantastic food with them. On Cinco de Mayo, we consume over 81 million avocados. But, that’s not all. There are over 367 tortilla manufacturers in the U.S. Tortillas, the “bread” of Mexico, was even an integral part of the Aztec diet.